Laura drove to the coast, the only one place she could calm herself down without intoxicating substances to help her along. She sat on a grassy hill along the beach and thought things through. Leon couldn't stay mad forever. Neither could anyone else who had formed the opinion she was a slut… And Brian would…what would Brian think or do? Would he back out of the whole thing now he knew how hard it would be? He obviously hadn't thought Leon would freak as bad as he did…or had he? As she listened to the soothing sounds of the ocean she heard a car pull into the car park behind her. She turned in time to see Leon get out of his yellow Skyline and come jogging down towards her.
"Oh great…" she muttered while getting up.
"No, sit, I need to talk to you." Leon pushed her back down and sat beside her.
He stayed silent for a moment, obviously planning how he would say what he had to say. Laura sat patiently; it was all she could give him.
"Ok. So I'm mad, I guess you know that. But I'm sorry I shot off like that. I probably overreacted… right?" he looked at her with pleading eyes. He obviously didn't want to believe there was anything between her and Brian.
"Leon, I won't deny Brian and I have a… spark. But nothing has happened or will happen between us. Not for a long while anyway. I told you before…I'm not ready yet."
Leon nodded and took a deep breath, "I think, for my good, and yours and Brian's… I might go away for a while. I have a friend in Mexico; he'll put me up for a few weeks... maybe more. I need to get away and if anything happens with you and Brian…which I think it will, then I don't wanna be here to see it. I can't guarantee I wouldn't kill him."
Laura was shocked. She knew he'd take it bad but not this bad. He couldn't just leave…of course, who was she to talk…
"But Le, I don't want you to leave…"
"Well, truthfully Laura I don't care what you want. I need a break from everything and everyone. I'm leaving now, today, I've already told Dom. I'll be back when I'm back. "
With that he got up and walked up the hill, leaving Laura on the verge of tears. She would never have thought she'd react like this to him leaving. She felt like he had just ripped her heart out and cut it into little pieces.
"Laura…" Leon called from the top of the hill, "I don't hate you for any of this…I love you. I think that's the problem…"
He disappeared into the car park and Laura listened as his car pulled out onto the highway and sped off into the distance. She remembered a time a week or so ago she thought life couldn't get any better. Now life couldn't get any worse…
She made her way back to the house. By now it was nearly 7pm and the rest of the team were already home. She walked into the living room, her head low and waited for whatever insults were to come. Instead Mia came right up and hugged her.
"Laura, I know things seem shit now but it'll be ok in a while. Le just took the break up harder than we thought he would...he'll be back in a few weeks though, I guarantee it."
Laura burst into tears and Mia led her upstairs. Laura took a quick look at the rest of the team who were all perched around the living room. Dom looked tired and pissed off, Jesse looked as though he felt sorry for her along with Letty and Vince. Brian was sitting at the end of the couch looking very uncomfortable. His lip was swollen and as Laura caught his eye he gave her a weak smile and looked back down at the floor. It was the first time she had ever seen the team so quiet.
"Laura…none of us blame you for Leon leaving…" Mia said as she led Laura into her room and sat her on the bed, "I know more than anyone, Brian has a pull that you just can't resist. Leon will get over it and he'll be back. We're all just sorry it had to blow up like this. But none of us are angry with you."
"I feel like a right bitch Mia, but what was I supposed to do? I couldn't get Brian out of my head ever since I met him that day in the store. I had to break it off with Leon, it wasn't fair to drag him along on false hopes…"
"I know. You did the right thing. You just need to take it slow with Brian. And when Leon comes back go easy on him. Don't flirt so openly…he's sensitive and it'll hurt him like hell."
"I know… it's all so hard Mia…it feels as bad as having Jerry hit me…"
Mia looked worried, "Seriously?"
"Almost…my heart has never felt so… so broken."
Mia sighed and hugged her again,
"Try to rest. You'll feel better in the morning."
Mia left her alone, and her thoughts came rushing back to haunt her.
"I can't think about this anymore…" she muttered as she went over to her CD player and put her Papa Roach album on. The familiar lyrics filled the room and she lay back on the bed listening to words that meant nothingyet everything to her…
I'm dreamin' about tomorrow
And I'm thinkin' of yesterday
I consume myself in sorrow this moment in time is what I betray
I am searching for the answers
I look around sometimes I get sad
'Cause I don't know which way to go
I look around sometimes I get sad
'Cause my life's spinning out of control